During a recent catfishing trip I have noticed that these so called Bass Master's seem more like spoiled children.  Running by you at break neck speeds with total disregard for fellow anglers.  If you ask me the Bass is the most overrated fish in the water.  I think catfishing deserves more respect than it gets.  Nothing is more exciting to me than to hang into a 30-40 lb Flathead.  Bass fisherman in my home state of Alabama totally ignore wake zone and will cast right over you and if you bank fish they cast at you tangling there lines with yours.  We all share the water and have a passion for fishing.  It just seems here in my State of Alabama home of the Bassmaster's it seems the own the water and are snobs.  After all in my opinion it is a higher degree of difficulty to catch a monster flathead head at 40 plus lbs with live bait that it is to catch a 4lb bass with a plastc worm.  (I've done both)

I fish for largemouth, stripers, channel and flathead cats every fishing trip. I like catching bass, but the highlight of any trip for me is boating a 20 or more pound flathead.

It doesn't just apply to bass fishermen.  In a wider application, it's the people who often specifically fish for one species of fish only.  It goes back to the lack of courtesy to any fellow anglers on the water.  If you know how to fish next to me, I'm fine because the water is for all.  If you don't, then it will simply just piss me off and I may have a very dirty mouth.  Sometimes, it just some plain ol canoist, just paddling into my line.  It's not like I'm just sitting there on the bank with my rod and line in the water for nothing.

The competitive nature of tourney fishing, well that just goes to people testing out the patience of other people.  I'm sure tourney anglers would appreciate me steering clear of them, but how about them doing the same for me.  It's not like, I know of other's tourney schedule.  I'm just a leisure angler, just trying to enjoy my peace and fishing.

I've been bass fishing for a while but caught my first channel cat at 22 1/2 inches just a week ago and I agree its a great gamefish.  They taste great and fight hard.  Here in MD I don't have much problems with other fishermen about fishing manners but the non fishermen are a different story.  I was surf fishing and a boater cut my line twice after I told him to keep more distance from the shore, eventually I just started cussing him out.  Another time this really ghetto guy came up to me at the pier, said let me see that, and started fishing with one of my rods without permission.

some places in maryland bass men suck like in the upper rivers when you are drift fishing they will come so close toyour boat and for some of who anly have a small 14 ft not a 50 thousand dollar job it can get rough i had my dad out when a bass boat came so close and rocked us so bad dad all most uent over now i know not all are this way but i have never seen one slow down for anybody.

Far and away, the rudest around here are the jet skiers.

Far and away, the rudest around here are the jet skiers.

Sometimes I feel that bass fishing has become the new NASCAR. It's not about the fish but more who has the biggest, baddest fastest boat on the lake. If that is your thing, get an offshore boat with 900 HP and race around the lake all day. Tom

By the way, they have Nascar fishing rods for bass fishing people.

Why does anyone need a boat that will go 85mph to go bass fishing? A fast boat is fun, but like a fast car or bike, you have to be responsible in it's use. A .50cal does 3000 fps. High explosive incendiary. Guess who wins?

I can' t talk for every bass fisherman but my partner and I respect everyone who is fishing, wether it is from the bank or from another boat. We make sure we keep our distance so we don't interfere with someone elses line. We respect the fact that you are trying to catch fish and if you are in a certian spot before we are we try to give at least a 100 yards. Most people don't but we understand  that we aren't the only one's trying to catch fish.!!!! The water belongs to everyone!

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I'm with Goat83 on this one ,when I'm out there and fishing my partner and I always try to give at least 100 yrds to another fisherman . Just wish I could say the same for the other folks AKA Jet skis and those  Darn PONTOON (tuna boats) .

Reminds me of fishing in giant shell cracker bed in Lake Seminole near Donaldsonville, Georgia.  There were well over 100 boats sitting on this king size bed and I was watching two older women just having the time of their lives.  A huge bass boat came barreling up behind them and couldn't stop quick enough.  One man was driving and the other was trying to put the trolling motor out and they actually hit the rear of the ladies John Boat.  I can remember it like it was yesterday.  The older lady in back of boat reached down picked up a six foot paddle and said loud enough for everyone to hear:  "Stay right there young man, I am about to teach you some manners!"  AND SHE DID!  I'LL never forget the picture of that young man who was blistered from the southern sun and getting blistered from a southern lady.  He jumped up and said to the driver of the boat:  Back Up!  Back Up! Before she kills me!  Nice lesson in good old fashion manners.  Watch out for every one when you are BOATING OR JET SKIING, ETC.  Those people on the bank have just as much right to the water as you.  Uncle Tom

My biggest problem is the canoe's and kayaks. I do some bank fishing from the bank of the Shenandoah River and I have had several that will paddle right along the bank and get tangled up in my line and cuss at me for fishing. That is the most annoying thing because I was minding my own business fishing and they could have gone out farther to steer clear of me but chose to go thru my lines instead of around.

I feel you there. I've had my problems with kayakers on the river when I'm catfishing but you got to assume that there are some people that just don't care about anything but themselves and one day they'll get back what they've done to everyone else. Karma's a B@#$%.

The main problem is the people that jet ski where I live.  They cause tons of commotion.

There's a cure for dealing with water hogs grazing over your lines. Keep a heavy action rod handy with a 1 oz jig tied on 60# braid line. That is standard fishing equipment for me regardless. When another boater interferes over your catfish line snag his line and cut the bait off, then pitch it towards them. "Here's your bait, sorry about that.". If the intruders are tournament fishing they probably can't leave the boat to mess with you. Your action will put a dent in their plans, costing them precious time. They need to learn to cooperate. If they don't get it, skip the jig to the hull of their fine boat, just enough to touch it. That's not a violation of fishing law. The newer it is the more sensitive they are about those loud crack sounds. The noise also ruins the bite around their boat. "Oops. sorry, I'm still working on accuracy." That usually results in them leaving in a rush.

On the other hand, most always if a tournament basser explains he was counting on my hole from practice days I let him have it, though didn't do that when competing. First come-first served, fastest boat gets it first, but that one can't be in two holes at once, so move on. But for me I still owe some nice catfish and crappie fishermen favors for immediately yielding a great bass spot after explaining nicely I was competing and really need to get those bass out of their way. Only one ignored me.

I've watched local fishermen organize at ramps with the intent of getting onto classic b*******s before a tournament launch. That used to be friends of competitors holding spots for their buddies, but now everybody seems to know what's going on, so each competitor now might find half a dozen boats on his prized spot, maybe even his whole milk run killed. I hope that doesn't hurt the local economy, as those tournaments bring in a lot of business. All involved have the capacity to simply follow the Golden Rule out there, as much as possible. But there's another principle that goes with that, that of the Rod of Correction. Hopefully all my fellow bassers will grow up.

Jim

I agree on the boat topic
1. i been fishn for 13 years never had to use a boat once.
2. why do you have to fly to the spot fish ain't dumb people they're goin to here you
3. walking on the banks make the fishing trip more enjoyable you met more fishermen and you can work an area better
4. the money that goes into the boat, trailer, lincenes, Fuel, and insurance could all be used to fishng tackle, rods, reels, and baits

It seems like a big waste in my eyes maybe cause i never used a boat

You don't need a boat if you have a great spot on a bank where you know cats will come by. I have access to oxbow lakes, ponds and some creek and river pools isolated by rapids, where the catfish stay year around, can't really go somewhere else. There are many folks so fortunate to have reliable access from a shoreline. But when our threadfin shad begin dying off in cooling water, no cats will be anywhere close to a shoreline you could fish from without endangering your life. They will soon be out in deep water circling under stressed shad schools, gorging on the weak and  dying ones. Boats will line up tossing whatever baits, hauling untold tons of cats aboard. When that begins you would have no cat without a boat around here.

When cats leave shallow water you will not noodle a one of them.  Without a boat you will not get in on most catfish tournaments. If you can't locate them out in the deep with sonar you will almost certainly not compete. There are most certainly prime hot spots only accessible from a boat. You would never get a chance at a giant cat at a gate of a lock & dam on a river. A boat simply magnifies access to places catfish go through the seasons.

Jim

Not trying to give anyone any ideas but I know a fella who keeps a paintball gun handy in his boat. . 
  I like all types of fishing everything from bluegills to cats. There really is nothing like the fight of a big ole river cat. If a bass is a boxer then an ole cat is a 350 lb hillbilly that just waits to get ya down in the gravel. Being a hillbilly myself, I love the challenge.
    Nothing like puttin a big cat in the boat!